War Stories

[Double T]

My co-workers' father just celebrated his 86th birthday. He is a veteran of the Pacific USAAF. Crew-chief on P-47 Thunderbolts... razorbacks and bubbletops.
When Julie--his daughter--told me this, I stopped home for lunch and brought back a P-47D Bubbletop model in 1/48th scale and told her to give it to him for a birthday present. (Wrong theatre of combat and all, but still a P-47.)
Well, has THAT ever triggered a flood of previously undiscussed events of his participation in combat against the Japanese!
"Ross" was a member of the 318th Fighter Group, 73rd Fighter Squadron... "The Barflies." He went ashore with US Marines in the first wave at Saipan. Their job was to get to the airfield as soon as possible, and prepare immediately for fighter operations. Of the 85 USAAF ground personnel that went-in, only 50 or so made it. Each was paired with a US Marine who was responsible for him. Ross said his escort told him to shoot anything in front of him that moved. After capturing the airfield, the squadrons P-47s were flown-in from an aircraft carrier in the vicinity. (Ross said the Japanese were baffled to understand how there were P-47s in the combat-area, knowing them to be land-based.) They serviced, fueled and rearmed the "razorbacks" under-fire at times.
Later in the war, he was on the island of Ie-Shima on the day when Ernie Pyle was killed by a sniper. Ross said they learned he was on his way to visit their base and spend some time.
Julie--his daughter--also brought in a scrapbook of sorts of old original photos of P-40s, P-38s, P-47s, B-24s, B-25s, P-51s and all this incredible nose-art. Ross took lots of pictures and his buddies in photo-recon developed them for him!
He has spectacular photos of two Japanese Betty bombers landing on Ie Shima on their way to the formal Surrender Ceremonies. They were escorted by American fighters and the hinimarus? were painted-over with large--red--crosses, though they look black in a B&W photo. After landing, they were transferred to USAAF transport and flown to the ceremony. (WAHT HAPPANED to those preiceless Betty bombers I wonder?)I have never seen photos of this before... and he took quite good photographs, considering their age.
I told his daughter they should take these photos to a specialty-house and have them rescreened and enlarged. They appear to be very special, historically valuable photos. Has anyone seen such photos before? The Bettys' appear quite-light, almost white, or natural-metal finish with 4-bladed props. Lots of people standing along the runway. Activity as they deplane, from a distance. Not close enough to make-out faces of the delegation or those in attendance.
What matters the most however, is that he is finally talking about his experiences during the war, and his family is learning much they didn't perviously know.
I think that's pretty cool.

Anybody else got a war-story to share?

Tim

[Double T]

Boy are you guys a bunch of closed-mouths... if you're not talking to these old veterans now, I might remind you they are dying at a rate of over one-thousand a day... the stories they have to share are priceless.

OK. I got more for ya'll.

Ross and I--see-above--talked again last night. A local hobby store had 1/3-off their model kits. I scored a 1/48 scale Tamiya P-47 Razorback Thunderbolt for a good-price. I'm now beginning work on an attempt to model the T-Bolt he was crew-chief on.

Ross said after they captured (and repaired) the runways on Saipan--Aslito airstrip--they took charge of P-47s flown-in off CVE's off-shore. He said they landed with only minimal fuel and ammo as a safety measure while on-board. They immediately commenced operations as soon as planes were serviced, armed and refueled.
He also remembered the SeaBees doing a fantastic-job repairing the holes in the airstrip and getting it back into operation... many times under-fire from neighboring Tinian--another Japanese strong-point, and they recieved daily fire from heavy artillery guns, 3 miles away.
He said his P-47--(pilots just got to "drive 'em, crew-chiefs owned the airplane)--was painted total olive-drab and neutral gray undersides. A large white 420 on each side, and no other colors. This was due to the fact their operational area wasn't that secure and camoflauge was insisted upon.
Ross remembered the operational conditions at Saipan being just awful. The airstrip was made of pulverized coral and it acted as an abrasive when raised in clouds of prop-wash. They waxed the leading-edges of the wings, tail-planes and rudder only. This helped combat the sand-blasting from coral and preserved painted surfaces. All surfaces were coated because of the terrible humidity, and moisture which would rust any exposed surface. He said flaps were always 'up while on the ground, as the delicate-hinges would pit if exposed to coral and weather.
A large felt blocker was placed in the intake under the massive R-2800-59 radial with a large black "ribbon" that hung-down. The inlet was highly polished aluminum that would quickly pit and degrade if exposed. The ribbon served a valuable purpose. To remind you to remove it before start-up. Once they were flown in a B-25 to a neighboring-strip to look at a sick P-47 that wouldn't run. Investigation by Ross determined that the "ribbon" was missing from the intake-blocker and the whole-durn thing was sucked into the supercharger when it was not removed prior to start-up. They located the felt intake-cover 6ft or so back inside the assembly. Affected plane ran just-fine after removal.
COLD BEER.
Find a pilot who will be flying at high-altitude that day. Remove ammo-cans from one 50-caliber in the wing. The remaining hole will a accomodate a case of warm-beer perfectly. Pilot returns from mission and the ground-crew--and pilot--enjoy cold-ones all-around.
IF anyone questioned the plane having ONLY seven guns? Ross says "If you can't hit 'em with seven, that 8th gun probably won't help you."

More to come...

Tim
DO feel free to jump in and share some of YOUR stories guys.

[curmudgeon]

quote:Originally posted by Double T


He has spectacular photos of two Japanese Betty bombers landing on Ie Shima on their way to the formal Surrender Ceremonies. They were escorted by American fighters and the hinimarus? were painted-over with large--red--crosses, though they look black in a B&W photo. After landing, they were transferred to USAAF transport and flown to the ceremony. (WAHT HAPPANED to those preiceless Betty bombers I wonder?)I have never seen photos of this before... and he took quite good photographs, considering their age.
I told his daughter they should take these photos to a specialty-house and have them rescreened and enlarged. They appear to be very special, historically valuable photos. Has anyone seen such photos before? The Bettys' appear quite-light, almost white, or natural-metal finish with 4-bladed props. Lots of people standing along the runway. Activity as they deplane, from a distance. Not close enough to make-out faces of the delegation or those in attendance.

There is a fairly full account by Robert C. Mikesh in 'Aviation History' 6: 50-56, 79 (September '95)'The surrender flight that almost failed'. Mikesh was retired from the NASM Washington.

The aircraft were white, the crosses were dark green. There is a colour photograph taken at Ie Shima (F. Hill is credited) One Betty ran out of fuel, ditched and was lost on return to Japan (just off the beach at Hamamatsu, the crew waded ashore). The other was deliberately torched at Kisarazu airbase. A piece of perspex souvenired from the Kisarazu Betty provided the clear areas of a wooden scratch-built model made by Mikesh.

The same issue has a long interview with Tibbets and a detailed article on the Nagasaki bomb mission.


quote:What matters the most however, is that he is finally talking about his experiences during the war, and his family is learning much they didn't perviously know.
I think that's pretty cool.


Get that information and record it (on paper!).

Most don't start talking until it is too late.

The WW I veterans didn't talk, their awful experience is almost unrecorded. My grandfather was on the Somme, his cousin, who lived next door, was at Gallipoli, my godfather was at Beersheeba ... and none of them ever said anything to anybody.

The WW II vets are going and their stories disappear with them. My father told us bedtime stories of his travels before I started school, but only started to talk shortly before his death, then promptly clammed up when he thought he was in remission.

[Romantic Technofreak]

The "Hinomaru" is the Japanese word for their national sign, the red roundel. The crosses the "Surrender Betties" wore should have been green.

To the topic, I only can point to the old thread starting with my mother´s amazing memories:

http://www.tgplanes.com/public/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=705

Regards, RT

[Double T]

Yes, your fellows are correct. The "Bettys" were painted white and the crosses were green. (I did some further checking... and black and white photos are misleading at best.) I also read that one of the planes nearly crashed on landing at Ie Shima, then ran off the tarmac and got stuck. The delegation was hurried off, and the Japanese crew were left to 'unstick' the plane themselves.
They used P-38s as escorts, fearing the P-47 might be mistaken for Japanese fighters in the air... the 'Lightning silouette being unmistakable.
I have made some good progress on his P-47 Razorback model, and of course have additional questions as I get deeper into it. I think the real reward for me in all this is the fact that this old gentleman has really opened up, recalling war memories he hasn't voiced in decades.
The other night, when we were concluding our conversation--nearly an hour--he says to me, "Tim, I know we've never met, but I think of you as a friend."
I told him I certainly felt the same... and hoped to meet him very soon.

Tim

[Double T]

Another conversation with Ross... and more questions on how to most accurately depict his P-47 Razorback.
I asked about bomb/ordnance loadouts so I can model the subject accurately. He said most of their missions were long-range, and they needed all the fuel they could carry. A standard load-out would have been a pair of drop-tanks on the wing hard-points with one 500-pound GP bomb on the center-line.
Ross said they frequently harrassed Japanese garrisons within the P-47s' flight-radius. Yap island was one of the destinations. He said they flew an awfully long way just to drop one 500-pounder.
He told me of watching battleships bombard the neighboring island of Tinian. There were many big gun-emplacements there that harrassed the airbase on Saipan. He told me two of his bunkmates were killed during these bombardments.
One day, he listened to the sound of what appeared to be railroad boxcars coming-over. They were 14-inchers from battleships. He said they sailed-overhead and landed on a mountainside of Tinian. Ross said all the combined bombardment brought the entire side of the mountain down.
As a humorous aside...
Ross related a story about the "piss-tube" in a P-47. I had not heard of such a thing, but each plane was so-equipped for those long-missions they flew. When a "green pilot" transferred-in, the ground-crew would convince him it was an intercom to talk to the crew-chief. Ross would tell him to talk to him on the ground... "No, no no. You have have to put your mouth right-up to it, and speak-up so I can hear you!" hahaha. It was a big joke to the veterans.

Tim

[montanamotor]

The "piss-tube" in american fighter aircraft's official flight-manuals was usually reffered to as the "pilot's relief tube".

Well - NOW I got what kind of relief they really meant... :D

Cheers!

Montanamotor

[Trexx]

Great thread! 'Love this stuff!

[Trexx]

I've found this news article and saved it. Obviously from World War Two, Pacific theater.

-Warning-

Graphic carnage contained within this excerpt...

By Ruben P. Kitchen, Jr. USS Yorktown Veteran Pacific Carrier.


...Seconds after the plane was sighted, its pilot dropped his bomb. This traveled almost horizontally toward the ship.

The gunners managed to knock the Judy out of the sky as its pilot attempted to pull his plane out of the run. The pilot was picked up, but the other man in the plane was killed. As the gunners were shooting the Judy out of the sky, the Yorktown was hit by the enemy.

The bomb hit the starboard side of the signal bridge and sheared smooth as a brass rim on the porthole on Admiral Radford’s sea cabin. The bomb then ripped a squawk box off the bulkhead, slashed two small pipes, and tore out a two foot section of the incinerator vent. The bomb cut through steel like a knife through butter.

Next, it cut a five foot hole out of the deck of the signal bridge, just in front of the hatch coming out of the superstructure. J. Bryan III was on port side of the bridge of the ship at the time, watching number 57 trying to land. Chief Mueck, the flag’s chief signalman, was on the starboard side of the bridge. What he could see in the next few seconds would startle him.

Only a second had passed since the bomb had hit the Yorktown. The next few seconds would change the lives of 23 men. Without warning, the bomb hit the 20mm gun gallery below the signal bridge. Don Seaman was firing his gun when he saw his TRUNNION operator Elmer Jekel, fall. The bomb’s fins had cut his legs off as the bomb passed by him.

Over on gun mount five, next to mount seven, (Don’s mount) the gunner, Paul Barnette, was hanging in his harness. The fins had also cut his legs off, and he hung there with his life’s blood dripping from his stumps into the holes on the deck left by the path of the bomb. The two men were fatally wounded but still alive. Before Don could help his turning operator, the bomb exploded below the gun gallery...

[Double T]

Ross told me when they captured the Aslito airstrip at Saipan--June 18, 1944--they discovered 12 undamaged Japanese Zeros that had been abandoned... He told me he had a chance to check them-out, before they "mysteriously" disappeared.
His impressions...
Flimsily-made, no armor for pilot, underpowered, no self-sealing fuel-tanks, weak armament. He thought very little of them compared to the robust, well-armored P-47D and it's eight .50-caliber machine-guns. No doubt he was a wee-bit biased.

In another aside, he mentioned that Midway Island--a desolate place--was home to the "Gooney-Bird." Rumors circulated that a soldier had been sent home when he was discovered "making-love" to a Gooney-bird.
The joke went something like this:
"Yes honey, I'll be home just as soon as I can catch me a "Gooney-Bird."

Tim

[Double T]

Last try to keep this thread alive... then I give-up on you people.

Ross worked on P-40s--ie. Allison in-lines--before his squadron transitioned to the P-47D--radial-engined Razorback. I asked him if he had a preference for one over the other. He much preferred the radial-engined P-47, stating that it could take an incredible amount of punishment, and still bring it's pilot safely home.
He told me of seeing P-47s return to base with entire cylinder-heads shot-away while the remaining piston and connecting rod continued to flail-away at the air. Ross dearly loved the P-47 T-Bolt.

Alright. I'm done. let 'er die.

Tim

[Trexx]

I was a paperboy from the ages of 11-16. (1974-1979)

One of my favorite customers was Mr. McCleary. He had a shrine in the entryway of his home that featured a B-17 model and frames full of medals. He was the navigator on the 'Suzy Q', a B-17 that was in the Pacific. He had the honor of being one many crewman that had done their duty inside that airplane. The Suzy Q was known affectionately because it hadn't lost a crewman ever.

He related a story to me one day. He said they got a few crew members that were new and quite green. The veterans had a rough line to tow when newbies were about. Many relationships were snuffed before too much time passed because of the dangers of war. There was trepidation and much razing when it came to the new guys.
On the first mission with the new tail and waist gunners aboard, they were pounced by enemy fighters. The crewmen were getting excited and they called out the boogeys. The fighters overtook the bomber from behind and raked the airplane with bullets... The pilot wailed into the intercom, "Why the heck aren't you guys shooting back at those bastards? For goodness sakes, they're coming around again!" Sheepishly the tail gunner answers, "You didn't give the order to fire, Sir." The following retort from the pilot was devoid of all civil decorum and good manners as he ripped into the 'by-the-book' rookies. He really railed into them I was told. But all those 'fifties' pounded like mad on the next pass.

[Double T]

In further discussions with Ross, I learned that radial-engine maintanence wasn't nearly the "bugger" I thought it must have been.
The big P-47 was designed--or retro-fitted--with a "quick-change" firewall that enabled an entire R-2800 radial-engine to be swapped-out in a matter of a few hours.
He told me that they didn't mess with troubleshooting, nor repairing shot-up, or poorly performing engines. What they did was swap it out for a new engine, and then sent the faulty unit back to a rear-area facility that performed the more tedious job of rebuilding/replacing damaged components.
Ross also told me that he was trained on Allison inlines for the P-40N's that they were originally equipped with. He was then sent for additional training to work on the Pratt and Whitney R-2800 when his group transitioned to the P-47.

Tim

[deebong]

i think that the new pilots would be hard to fool about a releif tube as it was standard equipment on every plane they flew prior to arriveing in the war zone...and you can figure they had about 350 hours at least when they arrived...

[waltedpalmer3]

Double T.

My father was supply officer for the 73rd. Could you contact me via email?

Thanks!

waltpalmer@comcast.net

[rich]

quote:Originally posted by deebong

i think that the new pilots would be hard to fool about a releif tube as it was standard equipment on every plane they flew prior to arriveing in the war zone...and you can figure they had about 350 hours at least when they arrived...

[rich]

i have pictures of the ie shima landing of the peace mission, the planes accompanying the bettys are b25s. i also have pictures of the peace party taken by other photographer. ironic that the last mission of ww2 wa flown by the models that first bombed tokyo, and were the only plane nicknamed for a person - the man who sacrificed his career for air power. also note that the two men killed by shellfire on saipan wwere named shideler and duhamel. bravest thing i ever saw was nasrallah running through the shellfire wirth his first aid kit to try to help his buddies. on those zekes found on saipan, one is in the air space museum in washington. memory fails me in remembering ross, but i was in s2 with posner.

[Corsarius]

I find it a little odd that someone who is in love with an aircraft that has eight '50s as primary armament can find an aircraft with combined machinegun and cannon armament to be 'underarmed'. I think that perhaps your friend may have been expounding the stereotype that all Japanese stuff was 'junk'. Or perhaps he was just in love with the P-47 and wouldn't have his armament any other way.

I have a few stories as well from Boomerang pilots, but it's rather late right now and I'll relate them later.

[Lightning]

Hi rich,

Quoting you:
quote:. . .the planes accompanying the bettys are b25s.

Along with the two B-25s, the actual fighter escort for the two Bettys was provided by P-38s.

Regards,
Lightning

[rich]

re;Lightning: tHANK YOU FOR YOUR CORRECTION. FROM THE GROUND WE COULD SEEE ONLY THE B25S AND THE BETTYS. THAT IS ALL THAT SHOWS ON MY PICTURE. REMARKABLE THAT A PLANE WITH AN EARLIER ACCEPTANCE NUMBER THAN THE P39 AND P40 WAS STILL A VIABLE COMBAT FIGHTER ON THE LAST MISSION.

[GregP]

DoubteT

I have had the occasion to inspect a real Japanese Zero that still flies with the Nakajima engine. It is well made, but the metal IS a bit thinner than that used by the U.S.A.. The plane is not underpowered and it is missing a lot of armor plate.

In combat with an equal enemy, I'd take a P-47 any day.

In combat with air superiority on my side, I'd take the Zero.

By the way, we have jobs and families and so need a few days to react to the thread ... have some patience! :)

[Double T]

Corsarius:
Ross no doubt was a bit-biased in his assessment... but I can hardly fault him when comparing Jap-iron to "The Jug" (P-47D).

Rich:
I might add that the decision to use P-38 Lightnings no doubt stemmed from the fact that it was unmistakable in profile when flying... and served to prevent the force from coming under attack by aa-gunners--or allied aircraft--on the way to the surrender ceremony.

Tim

[Double T]

Walt:
Check your e-mail. We should talk.

Tim

[Lightning]

Hi Double T,

Quoting you:
quote:I might add that the decision to use P-38 Lightnings no doubt stemmed from the fact that it was unmistakable in profile when flying... and served to prevent the force from coming under attack by aa-gunners--or allied aircraft--on the way to the surrender ceremony.

This is quite possible, but I would not use the wording "no doubt. . . ," as this implies that this was the only reason. For one thing, there were P-38s stationed in the area. For another thing, there would be no reason, depending on availability, to assign another type to the mission (i.e. that of protecting the Bettys carrying the peace mission) in favor of the P-38. Any of the top US fighters could have performed the mission equally well, but the P-38 took second place to none of them.

Regards,
Lightning

[Double T]

Lightning:
I said "no doubt" because it was of paramount importance that the surrender delegation arrive without incident. (I believe the delegation was also transferred to US aircraft for the final leg of the journey.) The fact the P-38 silouette was distinctive and unmistakable was... "no doubt"... the deciding factor. No arguement from me that the P-38L was a first-rate, highly capable aircraft.
Keep in mind that the 318th was now flying P-47N Thunderbolts off Ie Shima by wars' end. They were long-legged--increased wing-area and fuel-cells--but COULD be mistaken for a single-engine Japanese fighter. They left nothing to chance, and the P-38 was the logical choice...and as capable as any aircraft in-theatre at that time.
That better?
No offense--nor slight--intended to the Mighty P-38 Lightning.

Tim

[Lightning]

Hi Double T,

Your reasoning can't be faulted. When something makes perfect common sense (as does your posting), I won't presume to argue with it. I was just looking out for the interests of my plane.

Quoting you:
quote:Keep in mind that the 318th was now flying P-47N Thunderbolts off Ie Shima by wars' end.

I believe that P-38s were also on le Shima at the end of the war.

Regards,
Lightning

[Double T]

Lightning:
I see we're on the same-page on this topic my friend.
I would never 'slight the P-38!

Tim

[Double T]

Mission Complete!

I delivered the 1/48 scale model of Ross' P-47 Razorback Thunderbolt in time for it to be presented to him for Christmas by his daughter, Julie. I had hoped to deliver it in person to him weeks before. As I'm still fighting a head/chest cold, I wasn't able to be there in person to witness his reaction. I do really do regret that.

On the weekend I completed his "420" bird he suffered a mini-stroke and is now 100% blind in his right eye, yet with new glasses, he's seeing 70% out of the left. A cruel irony, but Ross is coping.

I called him this evening, as I was curious as to how my efforts were recieved. He told me he was absolutely delighted, and that it really WAS his '420' Thunderbolt. I told him of the details I had attempted, to add accuracy and to personalize his aircraft. I told him when the light was right, he would notice that the leading-edges of the wings and tail were waxed... just as he described in our conversations.

He told me everyone there was impressed with the details, and he was proud to finally show them HIS P-47. (If anyone could actually claim ownership of an aircraft... it would be the crew-chief!) Ross asked me how many hours I had invested in his model. I told him I really didn't keep track, but that it kept me out of mischief for awhile to be sure.

I also gave him a Squadron Publications "Walkaround" of the P-47 which he said had brought back memories of things he hadn't thought-of since the war. He was much appreciative of all those access-panel closeups... those shots only a modeler--or crew-chief--can appreciate.

Ross told me that he had been studying his '420' model with a magnifying glass... and I admitted to him that I was forced to use one to build it for him! He told me that he remembered sitting under the wing of his '420' taking a break from the hot sun, when the pilot would come-over and ask how the plane was running?

Ross would tell him "Oh, I don't know... she's running a bit rough, but it'll probably get you back-home." Then the pilot--a Lt. Anderson--would get all excited and threaten to bust him down to a private. And Ross would laugh, as he enjoyed that memory of a time so-long ago... and so far from home.

At the end of our conversation, Ross thanked me again. He said it was the finest Christmas gift he had recieved in many years. That was a high-compliment indeed, and I consider it an honor to have been able to build the '420' for him to enjoy.

And that about closes the book on this tale...
Of course there's that old B&W photo of the Curtis P-40N he crew-chief'ed... the '409' bird, with "Francine" on the left-side... under the exhaust-stack. The pilots' name was Lt. Barbour. That was when they were still based on Hawaii.
Hmmmm.

Tim

[rich]

[quote]Originally posted by Double T

Mission Complete!

I delivered the 1/48 scale model of Ross' P-47 Razorback Thunderbolt in time for it to be presented to him for Christmas by his daughter, Julie. I had hoped to deliver it in person to him weeks before. As I'm still fighting a head/chest cold, I wasn't able to be there in person to witness his reaction. I do really do regret that.

On the weekend I completed his "420" bird he suffered a mini-stroke and is now 100% blind in his left eye, yet with new glasses, he's seeing 70% out of the left. A cruel irony, but Ross is coping.

I called him this evening, as I was curious as to how my efforts were recieved. He told me he was absolutely delighted, and that it really WAS his '420' Thunderbolt. I told him of the details I had attempted, to add accuracy and to personalize his aircraft. I told him when the light was right, he would notice that the leading-edges of the wings and tail were waxed... just as he described in our conversations.

He told me everyone there was impressed with the details, and he was proud to finally show them HIS P-47. (If anyone could actually claim ownership of an aircraft... it would be the crew-chief!) Ross asked me how much time I had invested in his model. I told him I really didn't keep track, but that it kept me out of mischief for awhile to be sure.

I also gave him a Squadron Publications "Walkaround" of the P-47 which he said had brought back memories of things he hadn't thought-of since the war. He was much appreciative of all those access-panel closeups... those shots only a modeler--or crew-chief--can appreciate.

Ross told me had been studying his '420' model with a magnifying glass... and I admitted to him that I was forced to use one to build it for him! He told me that he remembered sitting under the wing of his '420' taking a break from the hot sun, when the pilot would come-over and ask how the plane was running?

Ross would tell him "Oh, I don't know... she's running a bit rough, but it'll probably get you back-home." Then the pilot--a Lt. Anderson--would get all excited and threaten to bust him down to a private. And Ross would laugh, as he enjoyed that memory of a time so-long ago... and so far from home.

At the end of our conversation, Ross thanked me again. He said it was the finest Christmas gift he had recieved in many years. That was a high-compliment indeed, and I consider it an honor to have been able to build the '420' for him to enjoy.

And that about closes the book on this tale...
Of course there's that old B&W photo of the Curtis P-40N he crew-chief'ed... the '409' bird, with "Francine" on the left-side... under the exhaust-stack. The pilots' name was Lt. Barbour. That was when they were still based on Hawaii.
Hmmmm.

Tim



[Tim: "and that about closes the book"
Yes, the book is closing for all of us. I was with the 73rd from June 1943 to the end. My failing memory does not allow me to remember Ross, but, if you will, please tell him that Dick Hoyt from the S-2 office still shares those memoriesoff the shellfire that took Shideler and Duhamel, the Kamikazes, the two typhoons on Ie Shima, the B-29s burning across Kagman Bay, Sgt White going hunting on Mt Topatchau. the Red Snapper......

Rich

[rich]

Tim:
Another thought. The p47 was a great plane, but we all have limitations. The runway at Ie ended at a cliff, like that at Isely Field on Saipan, to give the planes a little altitude at take off. In spite of this, the pilots on Ie demurred at the load they were being asked to take off with on the P47. To prove the feasibility of the order, Republic sent a pilot to demo. He came with the legend that he had been the first man to fly a P38. I remember watching the thunderous take off, seeing him get off the ground, watching him lose altitude, and finally catching the tail section on the very edge of the cliff. A great plane and a brave man were gone. Most of all, I remember the silence. Peace.....

[Double T]

Rich:
If you'd be so kind...
Please send me a PM using this site, as I think we should talk.
I hope to meet Ross in person in the next-couple weeks. I might be able to pass along some of your thoughts and memories of the time, and the people. (Ross told me he did remember Walts' dad as the 73rd Squadron supply officer at Saipan.)
I've checked and researched the 318th website and recall the short runway at Ie Shima, the overloaded P-47s and the Republic test-pilot being killed there. (He should have listened to the pilots who knew firsthand...) A sad story to be sure.
Ross also said the pilots at Saipan were only credited with 1/2 a mission as some of the sorties were of very short duration. Some of their ground-support missions were on Saipan itself, and Tinian was only 4 miles away.
I'd be happy to put you two old warriers together to talk, if I can help in some way. I just wish I could listen to the stories ya'll could tell.
Please feel free to contact me, and I'll share my personal e-mail/phone# with you.

Tim

[Double T]

rich:
I sent you some e-mail.
Yes, Ross remembered all those stories.
Duhamel "Duey" was his bunkmate, and was with him when he was killed.
Aerial-bursts from Tinian. They were sleeping 6 to a tent at the time.
He remembered the story of Sgt White going hunting... but I haven't heard the tale as of yet.
Keep in touch. You two should talk.

Tim

[Double T]

Rich:
I haven't heard any response from the PM I sent you.
I'll share my e-mail address just in case there was a problem...

jtterrel@indiana.edu

We need to talk!

Tim

[rich]

Tim:

Sorry but I am computer illiterate. I"ll get some counseling and get back to you in a few days. Thank you for your interest.